Sheet metal panel



Oct. ,23, 1951 E. G. GERNER EIAL SHEFT METAL PANEL Filed Aug. 27, 1946 7INVENTOR 'WILLIAM H. GERNER EUGENE G. GERNER CB A- 7W ATTORNEYS PatentedOct. 23, 1951 I AVAILABLE COPY H ESM L Eu ene GemenMm q q. and. WilliamL.

- Y Geea. asa'lll:

This invention relates to metal awnings or.

shades, and encompassesfa m'e alsheet-whioh'may be utilized-asa'wall-cdveri'ng:

"An object oithe invention is the provision of a rnetahavvningwhichis'light in weightand sturdy of construction."

Another object of the invention is the prol 'Another object' is the'pfovision of an awning madeof 'rnetal -sl ats, which is leak proof,with out the u's'ual overlapping featu'racustom'ary in awnings v m, x r4 .i l

'Another feature the invention is the provision of a metal-awningwh'ichis noiseless when rolled.

The awning of our invention consists of a plurality of verticallydisposed slats which are rolled on a roller, with its axis disposedtransvers'ely of the slats.

A further feature is the provision of an awning composed of slatswherein there is limited relative'movement between adjacent slats, sothat any stress imposed on any ofthe slats will not be transmitted tothe others."

A further object of the invention is the attainment of unusual strengthin the awning, resulting from the'vert ical disposition of. the slats,whichprevents sagging.

' A' stillfurther object of the invention is the attainment of increased's'tren'gth,'which is accomplishedby forming theindividual slats arouatein cross-section.

The slats in the awning of the present invention are formed withprojections and notches in their longitudinal edges, and are securedtogether by interlocking the projections and. notches in themeeting'edges of adjacent slats. Because qr this feature, the slats canbe formed by simple stamping,' and need not' be provided withcomplicated and cumbersome hinged'joints. This overcomes aseriousobjection to' previous forms of metal awningsj Such previous forms ofawnings, because'of their complicated hinged joints were required'to berolled on an axis longitudinally of the slats. The cumbersome hingedjoints required a great deal of space in rolling. In the presentinvention the locking means between the slats is flat and requires verylittle space in rolling.

A still further advantage of the invention is thatthe individualslatsmay beshipped to a user. andassembled onthe site into an awning anderected, without: the necessity of skilled:

Still anothercbject of the invention is-the provision ofan awni'n'gwhich can be applied'to standard awning fittings, and does not require aspecial type of roller'cr other fittings. "Still another object-is theprovision of an economicalfmetal awning within the price range of nearlyevery potential'fiusr. A still'fui'thef'advahtag of the inventionisthat. the device can be used: equally"well for out? ddor awnings "orforrindoor shades." Another'object birthe" invention is the pro-- visionof a metalawning in which the parts do not become loose'after'c'ontinuedluse. Stillanother'great'adva'ntage is that the awn ing canbeieasilyI-cleanedand painted or changed, whenever'th user desires."Still another advantage is that although the awning "can be IOH BdLOIIan axis transverse to the slats, there is 'no spring-back in-ithe metalsuch as encountered. in rolling a solid sheet. This resu1ts 'froin"tl-iefact that the"individ1'ial slats have a limited amount of movement'fela'-' tive to each other.

With these andother objects in view, our invention consists inthe'coris'truction', arrange ment and combinatioii ofthe various partsoi'tiiir device'whereby the bbje'cts contemplated are at tained'ash'rei-naf-terin'ore fully'set'forth, 5mm: ed out in"the"c1aim's', andillustrated'in"the"'ac companyin'g"drawingsfiifwhich'z" "Figi'lis'a erpeetiveview of completed awn ing'i'nade amemmgre' oiir'invention;"""" 2is anem a-reed View era portion of two slats showh'in pd'sition'forlockingtogether; 'Fig'. 3 is'jafieiviv diieirediicd scale "showing theslats "of Fig: 2' 'afte'r being'locked' together; this view shows aportionbi 'the undersurfa'ce of the awning? i Fig. 4 is a view of thereverse side of Fig. 3, and'shows a' portion ofthtop'surface of the""Fig'f's is a greatly enlarged and exaggerated view of the portionincluded in 'thedot dash'area Figf6 'is a view taken on line 6-45 ofFig. 4 and Fig. *1 at fragmentary-viewer the under surraceer"thawiungshbmng asupplementaryreinrorifin flme Figflisl'iows' 'the awningelement as a whole indicated at-12," and "compris plurality ofmaiviuuarnatsw4.' rhe'siaes"|4 it will be'noted', are"parallefaiidplacd'side'byside, and: meatsposed vertically as contrasted with beingdisposed longitudinally along the length of the awning,

The awning includes a roller l6, supportedby brackets l8, which aresecured to a vertical supporting surface. A pair of arms 20, one at eachend of the awning, are secured by brackets 22 at their inner ends, whichin turn are secured to the supporting surface. The outer ends of thearms 20 are interconnected by a cross-bar 24. The awning element 12 issecured at its up er edge to the roller l6 and at a point spaced a shortdistance upwardly from its lower edge to the cross-bar 24, by means ofrivets or bolts fitted in holes in the slats, or other suitable means.The lower extremity of the awning element I2 is provided with a bar 26forming a finished edge and acting as a weight for retaining the lowerportion of the awning element in vertical position over the edge of thecross-bar 24.

Two individual slats l2 are shown in Fig. 2, and are given separatereference numerals, 28 and 30 respectively, for ease of identification.Each of the individual slats is provided on both of its longitudinaledges with alternate projections 32 and notches 34. The projections 32are of considerable length longitudinally of the slat, as compared withtheir width transversely'of the slat, and diverge outwardly from theslat. At their inner portions each projection 32 in Fig. is formed witha straight portion for a short distance, as indicated at 36. Thisstraight portion 36 extends perpendicular to the length of the slat andat the outer extremity of the straight portion the projection begins itsdiverging shape and becomes longer longitudinally of the slat.Intermediate the longitudinal extremities of each projection 32 is aV-shaped notch 38 extending nearly to a line forming a continuation ofthe marginal edge of the body of the slat. The notch 38 actually dividesthe projection 32 into two e ements; however, the elements on oppositesides of the notch 38 are to be considered together as a singleprojection, because the notch, or the separate elements as such, do nottake part in the interconnection of the slats, as will be explainedlater.

Each notch 34 is formed by a pair of lu s 40 having a length laterallyof the slat to the same extent as the projections 32. In eachlongitudinal extremity of each notch 34 is a smaller notch or cut-outportion 42, positioned at the inner end of the notch adjacent themarginal edge of the slat, and extending longitudinally along the edgeof the slat. The cut-out portions 42 thereby form hook portions 44 onthe lugs 40 and the hook portions 44 of each pair of lugs 40 aredirected toward each other. The lugs 40 are spaced from adjacentprojections 32 a distance approximately equivalent to the longitudinaldimension of the lugs 40, as indicated by the gaps 46. The lugs 40 areto be distinguished from the pairs of elements making up the projections32; in the claims the elements 40 will be referred to as lugs, and eachpair of elements on opposite sides of the notch 38, together will bereferred to as a projection.

The longitudinal dimension of each notch 34 at its inner portion, thatis, the dimension from the floor of one cut-out portion 42 to itscompanion, is equal to the longitudinal dimension of the projection 32between its straight portions 36. To fit the slats together, theprojections 32 on one slat are fitted into the notches 34 on theadjacent slat. Thus the notches 34 may be referred to as locking notchesfor purposes of identification. The longitudinal dimension of theprojection 32 at its outer end is greater than the longitudinaldimensionof the inner end of the slot 34, and to lock the slats togetherthey are positioned in planes roughly perpendicular to each other, andeach projection 32 is flexed and snapped into the associated notch atsuch a point that the hook portions 44 pass over the straight portions36 of the projection. Successive projections 32 along the meeting edgeof adjacent slats are on opposite slats so that each projection 32 must.be forced into the associated notch in a direction different from theprevious projection. There is no direct locking engagement between lugsin adjacent slats, since the straight edges thereof are in engagement,and there is no locking or hooking effect. The locking effect is ac-'complished by the engagement between the projections 32 and the notches34. i

Fig. 3 shows the position of the various projections and notches ofadjacent slats, when they are in locking engagement.

It will be noted from Fig. 6 that the slats are arcuate incross-section. The arcuate shape of the slats imparts added strength tothe awning element and prevents sagging thereof. The axis of the roller16 is transverse to the slats and therefore rolling action is notobtained by means of hinges between the slats but by flexing and rollingthe individual slats. When the awnin is lowered or outstretched, theslats assume their arcuate curvature, but when the awning is ro'led,obviously the slats cannot retain their arcuate curvature, but are fiat.The effective transverse dimension of each slat changes from its arcuateposition to its flattened position, and therefore provision must be madeto allow for a certain degree of play in the locking arrangement betweenthe slats.

When the awning is outstretched and the slats assume their arcuatecurvaure, there is a tendency for the slats to separate. The relativeposition between the slats is shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 5, wherein dot-dash lines, the projection 32 is shown drawn outwardly of thenotch 34 to its limit. The outer extremity of the straight portion 36 isin engagement with the transverse outer limit of the respective cut-outportion 42. When the awning is rolled, and the slats assume w theirflattened position, the meeting edges between the slats are forcedtoward each other, and the inner extremity of the straight portion 36 isin engagement with the transverse inner edge of the cut-out portion 42.It will be understood, of course, that this condition is shownexaggerated in Fig. 5 for the purpose of illustration, and that thetransverse movement between the slats does not take place to the extentindicated in this figure. In addition, the movement just described is anextreme condition, that is, the limits of the greatest amount ofmovement possible, and that in the construction and assembly of slats,as contemplated by this invention, such movement may be anywhere betweenthe limits just described. In any event, the lon gitudinal dimension ofthe projection between the straight portions 36 is substantially equalto the longitudinal dimension between the floors of the cut-out portions42, so that there is no space left in fitting these elements together.

Whether the slat are arcuate or flattened, each projection 32 bearsagainst the transverse edges of the respective cut-out portions 42, sothat any opening between the elements of the locking means is reduced tothe absolute minimum, and

isno more-than acapillary opening. Thusthe awning is renderedwaterproof,- since water runt lugs" 40 are of shorter longitudinaldimension,

and consequently the difficulty just described does not exist inconnection with these lugs.-

As the slats become flattened in rolling onthe roller, the projectionsand lugs of the locking elements lie flat against the undersurface ofthe slats,=.reducing the total space required for the rolled awning to aminimum.

Thecurvature oithe'slats enables the awning to bemade of verylight gaugesheet metal, while possessing great strength, and because it-is made oflight gauge metal, it occupies very little space on the roller, when itis rolled up. Accordingly,.

it is'much'more easy and simple to operate in the rolling up operation.

Reference to Fig. 4 will show the appearance ofthe upper surface of thefinished awning. The line 4'8iindicates the meeting edge betweenadjacent slats,.and with the projections and lugs on the underside,there is nothing to be seen on top except a straight even line. Evenwith the adjacent slats slightly separated, this line does not becomenoticeably wider and the finished appearance of the awning element issimple and clear-cut.

In Fig. 7- a reinforcing strip 48 is shown secured across the undersideof the slats l4 by means of rivets. The rivets may be secured to spacedslats and need not be secured to allthes'lats. The strip 48 ispreferably of light gauge metal which is flexible so as to conform tothe rollingaction. The openings for the rivets in the stripare largeenough to permit slight movement of the rivets therein when the slats I4- alternately flatten out and resume their arcuate curvature.Ordinarily, the strips 48 are not necessary, but if the awning should beof considerable vertical extent and be subjected to violent winds, oneor more strips 48 may be employed for insuring that the slats remainlocked together.

Itvvill-be seen from the foregoing that an; awning made according to thepresentinvention can be applied to the fixtures and fittings usuallyfurnished with standard awnings. The individual slats may be sent to theuser unassembled, and the user can assemble them, and secure theassembled awning to the awning fixtures by a simple operation.

The slats of the present invention can be formed by a stamping operationin mass production and by high-speed methods. There has never been inexistence as far as can be determined, a metal awning formed by stampedslats.- All previous awnings of this general nature were formed ofslats, which in order to secure them together, were provided with largeand cumbersome hinging mechanisms. Such items obviously were expensiveand possessed other objections. In addition, never before has ametalawning been produced in which slats were indie" viduallyi rolled;

It: will be obviousfromnthe. foregoing that the article formed=isin-theformbf a sheet which may be utilized for coveringan expanse ofwall,- ifdesir'ed.

While-we have herein shown a particular embodiment of our invention, itwill be understood of-coursethat'we do not wishto be limited theretosince manymodifications may be made, and we-therefore contemplate by theclaims appended hereto to cover any such modifications or substitut-ionsof equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope or" ourinvention.

We claim:

1. A metal sheet comprising, a plurality of parallel metal slats, saidsheet being rollable into a roll having an axis transverse to saidslats,

each of said slats having a plurality of projections and notches formedin its longitudinal edges, each of said projections having a greaterlongitudinal dimension at its outer portion and each of said notcheshaving a greater longitudinal dimension at its inner portion, theprojec-- tionson each slat respectively fitting into the notches inadjacent slats for securing the slats together.

2. A metal sheet comprising, a plurality of parallel thin, sheet-likemetal slats, each of said slats havingv a body portion and a pluralityof projections and notches formed in its longitudinal edges, the bodyportion and projections of eachslat lying in a homologous surface, eachof said projections having a greater longitudinal dimension at its-outerportion than at its inner portion, and each of said notches having agreater longitudinal dimension at its inner portion than at its outerportion, the longitudinal dimension of each projection at its innerportion being substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of eachnotch at its inner portion, the projections on each slat respectivelyfitting into the notches in adjacent slats for securing the slatstogether, the projections of each slat overlying the body portion of anadjacent slat when the slatsare secured together.

3. A metal sheet comprising, a plurality of parallel metal slats, saidsheet being rollable into a roll having an axis transverse to the slats,each of said slats having a plurality of alternate projections andlocking notches formed in its longitudinal edges, each of said.projections having agreater longitudinal dimension at its outer portionthan at its inner portion and each of said locking notches having agreater longitudinal dimension at its inner portion than at its outerportion, each of said projections being cut transversely of the slat ata point intermediate the longitudinal extremities of the projection toform flexing notches, the projections on each slat respectively fittinginto the locking notches in ad jacent slats for securing the slatstogether.

4. 'In a metal sheet, a plurality of parallel metal slats disposed sideby side, said sheet being rollable into a roll having an axis transverseto said slats, each of said slats being arcuate in cross section, eachof said slats having projections and notches formed in its side edges,the projections of each slat respectively interlockingly engaging thenotches in adjacent slats for securing the slats together, the meetingedges of adjacent slats having limited relative movement toward and awayfrom each other with said projections and notches in interlockingengagement.

5. Ina metal sheet, a plurality of slats disposed side by side, each ofsaid slats having projections and notches formed in its longitudinaledges, the projections of each slat respectively interlockingly engagingthe notches in adjacent slats for securing the slats together, each ofsaid notches having a contiguous cut-out portion at each longitudinalextremity adjacent the edge of the body of the slat, the respectiveprojections having binding engagement with the transverse edges of saidcut-out portions when said projections and notches are in interlockingengagement.

6. In a metal sheet, a plurality of identical slats disposed side byside, each of said slats having alternate projections and notches formedin its longitudinal edges, each of said notches being formed by a pairof lugs, each pair of lugs being disposed between and spaced fromsuccessive projections, the projections on each slat respectivelyfitting into the notches in adjacent slats for locking the slatstogether.

7. In a metal sheet, a plurality of slats disposed side by side, each ofsaid slats having alternate projections and locking notches formed inits longitudinal edges, each of said projections having a greaterlongitudinal dimension at its outer portion than at its inner portionand being cut transversely of the slat at a point intermediate itslongitudinal extremities to form a flexing notch, each of said lockingnotches being formed by a pair of hook-shaped lugs, the hooks of thelugs forming each pair being turned toward each other, said lugs beingspaced from adjacent projections, the projections on each slatrespectively fitting into the locking notches in adjacent slats forlocking the slats together.

8. In a metal awning, a plurality of slats disposed side by side, saidslats each having projections and notches formed in their longitudinaledges, the projections of each slat respectively interlockingly engagingthe notches in adjacent slats for locking the slats together, and aroller secured to said slats having its axis transverse to said slats.

9. In a metal awning, a plurality of slats disposed side by side, saidslats each having interlocking portions in their adjacent longitudinaledges for securing the slats together, and a roller secured to saidslats having its axis transverse to said slats.

10. A sheet metal slat, a plurality of which are used for making up ametal sheet, having alternate projections and notches formed in each ofits longitudinal edges, each of said notches being formed by a pair oflugs, each pair of lugs being disposed between and spaced fromsuccessive projections a distance equal to the longitudinal dimension ofeach lug.

11. A metal awning comprising, a plurality of vertically disposedparallel metal slats, said awning being rollable into a roll having anaxis transverse to the slats, each of said slats having a plurality ofprojections and notches formed in its longitudinal edges, theprojections on each slat respectively fitting into the notches onopposing edges of adjacent slats for securing the slats together, saidprojections and notches having a close fit and a reinforcing stripextending transverselyof the slats and secured to certain of the slats,said reinforcing member being flexible in a direction about the axis ofrolling of the slats.

12. In a metal sheet, a plurality of thin, sheetlike slats disposed sideby side, said slats each having a body portion and projections andnotches formed in their longitudinal edges,- said notches being cutthrough the material of the slats and said projections forming lateralextensions of the material of the slats, the body portion andprojections of each slat lying in a. homologous surface, the projectionsof each slat respectively interlockingly engaging the notches inadjacent slats for locking the slats together, all of said projectionsall being disposed on one side of the sheet and adapted to liesubstantially fiat against the sheet.

13. A metal awning comprising, a plurality of vertically disposedparallel metal slats, said awning being rollable into a roll having anaxis transverse to the slats, each of said slats having a plurality ofprojections and notches formed in its longitudinal edges, theprojections on each slat being interlockingly fitted respectively in thenotches in adjacent slats, the outer portion of each of said projectionshaving a greater longitudinal dimension than its inner portion, and theinner portion of each of said notches having a greater longitudinaldimension than its outer portion, said inner portions of saidprojections and notches having a close fit for securing the slatstogether, and a reinforcing strip extending transversely of the slatsand secured to the awnmg.

14. A metal sheet comprising a plurality of elongated parallel metalslats, each of said slats having a plurality of spaced primaryprojections formed in the edges of the slat, each primary projectionhaving a pair of opposite edges extending parallel to each other to anintermediate point spaced from the body of the slat, said opposite edgesthen diverging to form an outer portion of said primary projection ofgreater longitudinal dimension than the portion between said paralleledges, a plurality of secondary projections formed in the edges of theslat, a pair of adjacent secondary projections bounding the longitudinaledges of a notch, portions of each said secondary projection beingspaced parallel to the body of the slat to bound the width of the notch,the primary projections on each slat fitting into the notches inadjacent slats for securing the slats together, and the distance betweenthe body of the slat and said intermediate point on the primaryprojections being substantially equal to said width of said notch.

15. A metal sheet comprising a plurality of elongated parallel metalslats, s'aid sheet being rollable into a roll having an axis transverseto the slats, each of the slats being normally arcuate in cross-sectionand adapted to flatten when the awning is rolled, each of said slatshaving a plurality of spaced primary projections formed in the edges ofthe slat, each primary projection having a pair of oppositeedgesextending parallel to each other to an intermediate point spaced fromthe body of the slat, said opposite edges then diverging to form anouter portion of said primary projection of greater longitudinaldimension than the portion between said parallel edges, a plurality ofsecondary projections bounding the longitudinal edges of a notch,portions of each said secondary projection being spaced parallel to thebody of the slat to bound the width of the notch, the primaryprojections on each slat fitting into the notches in adjacent slats forsecuring the slats together, said intermediate points on the primaryprojections being adjacent the spaced parallel portions of the secondaryprojections on the adjacent slat when the slats are arcuate, and thebody of the slat BEST AVAlLABLE COPY 2,572,257 9 10 being adjacent thespaced parallel portions of Number Name Date the secondary projectionsof the adjacent slat 230,511 Vogdt July 27, 1880 when the slats areflattened. 462,094 Fowler Oct. 27, 1891 EUGENE G. GERNER. 667,953 RossFeb. 12, 1901 WILLIAM H. GERNER. 5 757,106 Gervais Apr. 12, 1904 819,866Dobson May 8, 1906 REFERENCES CITED 1,061,297 Johnson May 13, 1913 Thefollowing references are of record in the 1106383 Holnagel file ofpatent: Dec. 29, 10 2,100,976 Norton Nov. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENTS2,204,363 Jenkins June 11. 1940 Number Name Date 58,451 Merrill Oct. 2,1866

